LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms' Botanical rolled to her third consecutive open-lengths victory over Turfway Park's Tapeta track on Saturday evening, winning the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy by 6 1/2 lengths under Chris Landeros. The Brad Cox-trained daughter of Medaglia d'Oro earned 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks after covering one mile over the Florence, Ky., track's synthetic surface in 1:36.51.
Sent away the odds-on favorite in the Cincinnati Trophy, Botanical paid $3.90 to win
Jill Jitterbug finished second, with pacesetter B G Warrior third in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies
Botanical left the maiden ranks in her third start last Nov 30 in her first run over the synthetic track after racing twice on turf. She won by 10 3/4 lengths on that occasion, then went wire to wire against allowance competition, drawing off by 4 1/2 lengths – both races contested at one mile at Turfway.
In the Cincinnati Trophy, Landeros allowed Botanical to settle into third position as B G Warrior set quick fractions of :22.95, :45.69, 1:10.75 and 1:23.96 through seven furlongs – opening up on the field by as many as 5 1/2 lengths after jockey David Haldar's saddled slipped forward on the filly. Botanical hit the front at the furlong pole and drew clear in the final eighth of a mile.
“She's a very talented filly,” Landeros said. “When I saw B G Warrior go out to the lead like that, I just let (Botanical) settle. I had a ton of horse beneath me and had all the confidence in the world in her. I can't wait to see where she goes next. She's got a very bright future.”
Produced from the graded stakes-winning Blame mare, Daisy, Botanical was bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms and Godolphin. She was purchased for $220,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Solis/Litt from the Clearsky Farms consignment.
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